Awards FAQ

Award Members, this document has been prepared to aid your entry preparation. Please read it carefully. The AADC Executive thanks you for your continued support and wishes you best of luck in these awards.

There have been changes to the Conditions of Entry. Please read carefully to ensure your entries comply.

When do entries open?

Monday 20th August

When do entries close?

Friday 7th September (at midnight)

When do entries really close?

After the close of entries late entries will be accepted with a $20-per-entry penalty until Friday 14th September (at midnight)

Register an account on the site, remember that the award recipient nominated must be a current AADC Awards member.

What work is eligible?

Work with a first air/publish/live date between 1st July 2017 and 30th June 2018

Can I enter awards if I’m not an AADC member?

No. You must be a paid AADC member in order to enter Awards. You can become a member at aadc.com.au/membership

What are the prices?

Individual: 120.00

Campaign: 150.00

Student: Free

Can I enter a piece of work in multiple categories?

Yes. You can enter in any category that matches the description of your work.

Can a piece of work be entered multiple times in the same category?

Yes. For example a Cinematographer may enter a piece of work in Film Craft for cinematography, while a Director may enter the same piece of work in the same category for direction.

Both entries will be judged separately based on the submission.

All craft entries must be made by the craftsperson.

What category should photography work be entered into?

Craft in print.

Is there a category for Mixed Media?

Yes. Integrated Campaign.

THE CATEGORY SYSTEM

The AADC category system has traditionally drawn on some of the best awards programs from around the world, this year is no exception.

To allow for the categories of advertising and design that continue to evolve, we look to other awards shows for constant inspiration. Award this year has played a major role this year. It is fitting, as winners of the Chair Awards get automatically entered into Award on behalf of the AADC.

A Judging System with Integrity

The AADC Awards judging process is one of the most robust in the country. We pride ourselves on recruiting the best interstate and international creatives.

Judges are carefully collected experts of their particular fields and allocated to each category so only the most qualified judge your work.

All work is judged anonymously. Judges are not informed who the entrant is. Judges only evaluate the work on its merits, not the entrant.

14 Top Level Categories

Designed to cover the gamut of creative work that our industry produces.

Carefully Selected Sub-Categories

It is important well-considered sub-categories are offered to allow your work an appropriate place under main categories themselves.

Each category has set, predefined options you can have your work evaluated on. It allows you the opportunity to define what you want the work to be judged on.

It is up to the entering member to act with integrity and within the intention of the rules. Scrutineers and judges may remove spurious entries or concocted sub-categories.

Three Levels of Recognition

In each category there are three levels of recognition.

Work awarded the level of Finalist will have been deemed by the judges to be of a high standard and awarded a Finalist Certificate. Your work will be displayed in the Award book and exhibition on the night.

Work awarded the level of Award will have been deemed by the judges to be of an excellent standard, awarded a trophy and eligible to be elevated to the level of Chair.

One piece of work from each category may be awarded the level of Chair, if elevated by the judging panel. The Chair represents a best-in-category award and will have been deemed by the judges as an outstanding piece of work. There is potentially one Chair awarded for each category. There is no best of show award, which puts totally different formats and skills against each other.

The AADC Awards is not a ‘first past the post’ or ‘last one standing’ process. Only work deemed of a high enough standard will be recognised. Therefore, it is possible there are no awards given within a category if the judges believe entries do not reach that standard. For this reason alone, a Finalist Certificate should be regarded as great achievement.

TOP LEVEL CATEGORIES

Film and Video

Judges will evaluate the strength of the idea, not the quality of the craft (which should be entered in Craft in Film). Entries can include online branded content.

Interactive film and video should be specifically designed to create direct user involvement. It needs to be clearly demonstrated how the viewer was able to interact with the medium.

Craft in Film

This category honours the quality of craft in the filmmaking process. Director’s cuts, agency versions and the like are not permitted. All work must have aired and this needs to be verified by the client. Entrant must be the craftsperson.

Digital VFX includes outstanding digital production techniques for compositing of live action and digital elements.

Design for film and television includes movie titles and opening titles.

Print

Please also submit an example of work or a description of the central idea that contributed to the final execution.

Integrated Campaign

These are ideas that are integrated across different media. In this category, components must include at least two of the following media: film/TV, print, radio, poster outdoor and indoor, digital and direct marketing.

Poster, Outdoor and Indoor

An overview of the work submitted is optional but must not be longer than 2 minutes. All entries must include and in situ photo to be eligible in this category.

Craft in Sound

A hard copy of the script must be submitted for copywriting. If recorded in a language other than English please provide a hardcopy of the script translated to English.

Craft in Print

Judges will look primarily at the contribution the specific craft has made within the overall context of the work. Charity ads are eligible in ALL craft sub-categories. It is mandatory that all entries in digital enhancement and manipulation include a before and after executions. Annual reports are not permitted in this category but can be entered into specific categories in design.

Radio

This category is for ideas used in radio. This may include single radio ads, campaigns or non- traditional uses of the medium.

Direct Marketing

Direct marketing is advertising that communicates straight to a single consumer to generate an immediate response. To be eligible in this category each piece of work must have a specific and measurable call to action. It is mandatory that all entries include an overview video board with related images and a description of no more than 100 words. Overview videos must not run longer than 2 minutes in length.

Design

In this category judges will consider both the idea and technique.

Digital

Judges will consider both the idea and the technique. An on overview video is mandatory but must not be longer than 2 minutes.

AADC will not be responsible for URLs submitted live that do not function post entry processing and throughout judging.

Promotional and Experiential

This category is for activities that are designed to create interaction or consumer engagement.

In this category the work will be judged specifically on how the medium was used to evoke consumer activation. Please submit samples or in situ images as support.

New Product Development

Any new product or service produced and distributed for a specific client or brand. The product or service must represent genuine innovation, change a category or create a new one.

Student

Returning for 2018, the Student category has two subcategories – Craft, and Idea.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

Publication of Entries

The AADC reserves the right to reproduce any or all of the material entered in the 41st AADC Awards for publication in the awards exhibition, winners’ book, screening at the awards show and our website &c also to utilise the said material for post awards publicity and/or reproduction as required.

AADC Eligibility Statement

The AADC Awards were established to acknowledge and encourage excellence in the commercial application of creativity.

All work must have been engaged by a client (i.e. no self promotion), be original and must have been published, aired or released for the first time between 1 June, 2017 – 30 July 2018

All work must have been created for a genuine commercial outcome and released in a commercial environment. Entries must have been exposed to an audience.

Entries may be submitted by any industry professional, including students studying to enter the advertising and design industry, providing they are a financial Award or Student member of the AADC.

The entrant of any creative idea must be the originator of the concept. The entrant of any creative craft work must be the “craftsperson” who created the work.

Craft entrants please note: Entries must be made by the craftsperson. Should the entry receive a trophy, the entrant’s name will appear on that trophy. Should the entrant require multiple trophies individually inscribed with other names, they can be made available at the price of $150 each.

The jury may see fit to move the entry to another category if they deem it necessary.

The same piece of work may be entered multiple times into the same and/or different categories by the same and/or different entrants provided each entry has unique judging criteria.